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Abstract #3385 Published in IGR 4-2
The role of c-fos in cell death and regeneration of retinal ganglion cells
Oshitari T; Dezawa M; Okada S; Takano M; Negishi H; Horie H; Sawada H; Tokuhisa T; Adachi-Usami EInvestigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 2002; 43: 2442-2449
PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of c-fos on apoptotic cell death and regeneration of damaged retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in tissue culture of retinal explants. METHODS: Retinas from transgenic mice carrying the exogenous c-fos gene under the control of the interferon (IFN)-α/β inducible Mx-promoter (Mx-c-fos), c-fosBdeficient mice, and littermate control mice were dissected and cultured in a three-dimensional collagen gel culture system, followed by an analysis of TdT-dUTP terminal nick-end labelling (TUNEL) staining and measurement of neurites that emerged from explants. RESULTS: Compared with littermate control mice, Mx-c-fos transgenic animals showed a higher ratio of TUNEL positivity in the RGC layer from early in the culture period that correlated with the small number of regenerating neurites. In contrast, the c-fosBnull mutated mice showed a still-lower ratio of TUNEL-positive cells. Nevertheless, the number of regenerating neurites was significantly lower in the initial phase, although the drastic increase in density of neurite regeneration was observed in the late period of culture. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that c-fos is involved in both apoptotic cell death and regeneration of damaged RGCs. Elucidation of the precise c-fosBmediated cascade involved in RGC apoptosis and regeneration is significant in realizing neuronal survival and regeneration.
Dr. T. Oshitari, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
Classification:
1.3 Pathogenesis (Part of: 1 General aspects)
4 Tissue culture of ocular cells
5 Experimental glaucoma; animal models
